Magnitude 7.2 earthquake hits Baja California

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook Baja California Sunday afternoon, causing ripple effects in Southern California cities including San Diego and Los Angeles.

The quake originated near Guadalupe Victoria, Mexico, located just southeast of Tijuana.

Damage assessments from the remote region were slow in coming, as Mexican Web sites were overloaded for several hours, according to The New York Times.

Despite the size of the tremor, only one death has been confirmed as of press time. However, there was damage in the Mexican border town of Mexicali, according to the Los Angeles Times.

These reports include broken pipes and windows at a hotel, and trapped people in elevators, according to the Associated Press.

In addition, a two-story parking garage near the Mexicali government headquarters collapsed, resulting in several injuries, according to the Los Angeles Times. The government building also sustained damages and a local hospital was evacuated.

Across the border, substantial damage was reported in the older portion of Calexico, a city located close to Mexicali, according to the Associated Press. In spite of this damage, which included structural breakages and leaking gas lines, no injuries have been reported.

In other parts of Southern California, more than 5,000 Southern California Edison power company customers were affected by the quake, as lights flickered for about 30 seconds, according to the Associated Press.

In addition to the effects in California, reports of shaking were also recorded in Arizona and Nevada.

Following the initial tremor, three aftershocks hit the lower California region, including a 5.1 jolt that was felt in the Imperial County desert, a region located east of San Diego, according to the Associated Press.

The quake is the largest that has struck the Baja California region in nearly 18 years, according to the Associated Press. However, the area has been seismically active for the past year and produced numerous earthquakes in the 3-magnitude range, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“They happen pretty often, but they’re usually pretty minor,” said Gerardo Ruano, a third-year English student from Calexico, Calif., a town located near the border of Mexico and California. “You feel them a little bit, and then they’re over.”

Ruano said damage at his home was limited to broken plates and glasses. Initially, he was unable to get in touch with his family through their cell phones or home phone lines, but he was eventually able to reach his mother, who assured him of the family’s safety.

But Ruano is still waiting to hear news from his family in Mexicali, since communication is limited by the downed power lines and major traffic jams.